May 12, 2002
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State junior Alicia Stewart set a personal best in the 5,000-meter run at the Occidental Invitational in Los Angeles, on Saturday.
Stewart covered the distance in 17:55.33, bettering her previous fastest time this season by 18 seconds and posting the fastest time by an Aztec athlete this season. She placed third in the 14-athlete field.
Only six San Diego State athletes competed in the meet, with all participating in the 5,000. Four of the six athletes set personal-best times.
In addition to Stewart, sophomore Angie Fitzpatrick (19:20.70), sophomore Julie Amster (19:37.58) and freshman Emily Joller (20:56.57) all set personal bests.
Freshman Tina Fodor recorded the second-fastest time by an Aztec, clocking in at 19:20.06.
Elsewhere, Melinda Smedley, a native of Stockton, Calif., returned to her home area to participate in the Modesto Relays on Saturday. Running the 200 meters, the junior posted a time of 24:07 and finished fourth out of 12 competitors.
The Aztecs will be back in action this week when San Diego State participates in the 2002 Mountain West Conference Championships. The championships, which are held in Colorado Springs, Colo., run May 15-18.